A lot of folks are really angry about people making posts via social media that encourage reaching out for help, and providing resources such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Crisis Text Line. While I agree that we need to check in on our loved ones when we think they may be struggling, some ...

The term ‘exorcism’ comes from the Latin exorcismus, which means a calling up or driving out of evil spirits. An exorcism is defined as a religious or spiritual practice that involves banishing demons or other spiritual entities from a person, place, or thing that is believed to be possessed. Tales of exorcisms date back to ...

I have always believed that there was something wrong with me. I didn’t know what it was—whether it was a learning disorder, ADD, or something else entirely—but I knew something wasn’t quite “right.” Growing up, I excelled in school. Without sounding conceited, I am a fairly intelligent person and a quick learner. Due to my ...

Sometimes, I pretend. I pretend to be okay. It feels like it’s easier for everyone else when I do. Grief is awkward and upsetting and ugly, so I understand why it makes people uncomfortable. I really do. So, when you ask if I’m okay, I’d rather lie because I want to spare your feelings. It’s ...

To the teacher who didn’t care, All I wanted was a chance. A chance to do what I loved. It wasn’t just a hobby to me; it’s what I loved most in the world. By not giving me a chance, you took that away from me. It’s been over 10 years since I quit my ...

“That’s the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it’s impossible to ever see the end. The fog is like a cage without a key.” – Elizabeth Wurtzel The winter holiday months are ...

December ushers in the holidays and the new year. Now that I am older, I find that December gets here sooner every year and flits by even faster. The worry about having enough money to buy everyone a gift begins to set in the first week of December. I go through the motions of putting ...

“We all want to be, want to be somebody Right now, we’re just looking for the exit.”   Many people experiencing depression, mental illness or suicidal feelings are feeling alone. They feel like an outcast, like they don’t matter, like they are not providing anything positive to society and that the world would be better ...

You can accomplish more than you think you can. Growing up as an anxious child and dealing with anxiety in my teen and young adult years, I never thought I would be a good leader. I was always the quiet one in the background that no one noticed, and many times, that’s how I preferred ...